World Cup 2018, Croatia vs Denmark Highlights: Croatia Beat Denmark On Penalties To Enter Quarter-Finals

Croatia beat Denmark in a dramatic penalty shootout on Sunday to progress to the World Cup quarter-finals. Mathias Jorgensen gave Denmark the lead after just 58 seconds but Mario Mandzukic levelled for Croatia in the fourth minute and the sides remained locked at 1-1 at the end of extra time. But Croatia won the shootout 3-2 after Danijel Subasic saved three spot-kicks. Croatia made nine changes from their last World Cup Group D match for the knockout match against Denmark on Sunday, reverting to the team that impressively beat Argentina 3-0. Only captain Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic remain from the starting line-up against Iceland, the Croats' last group match, which was played after they had already secured qualification for the last 16. The game against Denmark takes place in the same Nizhny Novgorod stadium where Croatia thumped Argentina 10 days ago. Sunday's clash has been billed as a clash between two midfield artists, Real Madrid's Modric and Denmark's Christian Eriksen of Tottenham. Both playmakers have been selected. (HIGHLIGHTS: Croatia vs Denmark)

Highlights between Croatia vs Denmark, 2018 FIFA World Cup, straight from Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

02:22 IST: Thank you for joining us on all the live actions on the blog, until next time, it's goodbye! 

Incredible. Simply incredible.

Not sure we'll see a shoot-out like that again for a while! Five saves, but #CRO take it.#CRODEN pic.twitter.com/BDF10UDA0T

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018

02:16 IST: Ivan Rakitic scores for Croatia, as they go through in the quarter-finals. Croatia defeat Denmark 3-2 on penalties.  

02:15 IST: Sudden death now, Jorgensen misses it for Denmark. 

02:14 IST: Pivaric denied! Croatia 2-2 Denmark. 

02:13 IST: Lasse Schone denies the danish, still 2-2. 

02:12 IST: Modric scores, 2-2. 

02:11 IST: Michael Krohn-Dehli scores, 2-1. 

02:11 IST: Krmaric scores for Croatia, 1-1. 

02:09 IST: Danish captain Simon Kjaer scores it from the spot, fires it on top of the net. Denmark 1-0 Croatia on penalties. 

02:09 IST: Milan Badlej for Croatia, saved! 0-0

02:07 IST: Christian Eriksen takes first kick from the spot, denied! Denmark 0-0 Croatia in the penalties.  

02:02 IST: Croatia 1-1 Denmark after extra-time. We head to penalty shootouts to find out a winner! 

02:00 IST: Final minute, Kovacic on the left flank. Modric dances down the middle makes a pass but Kramaric skies the ball over. One minute added! 

DRAMA! KASPER SCHMEICHEL SAVES A PENALTY!

Ante Rebic was brought down, but Luka Modric couldn't convert!

Does this mean even more penalties?!?#CRODEN pic.twitter.com/kOqn2caoc6

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018

01:54 IST: PENALTY for Croatia! Luka Modric takes it, Kasper Schmeichel saves it! What a drama, that is the fourth penalty saved in the FIFA World Cup 2018. 

01:53 IST: Knudsen takes a long throw-in, falls in space but the ball has hit the side-netting. 

01:48 IST: Croatian substitution, Mario Mandzukic has been replaced by Badelj. 108 minutes on the clock. 

01:46 IST: The second-half of extra-time gets underway, Kovacic takes a shot from outside the box but the ball hits the Danish defender and fall back.

01:43 IST: First-half of extra-time, still 1-1. 

01:40 IST: Corner for Croatia, second consecutive, Modric takes it, Dalsgaard keeps it away. One minute added in the first period of extra-time. 

01:39 IST: Both the teams look tired, not taking much chances but Croatia keeping the ball better. Denmark clearing everything that comes their way. 103 minutes played!  

01:32 IST: Throw-in for Denmark, falls for Poulsen but he fails to make the most of it. Meanwhile, Perisic has been brought off to be replaced by Kramaric. 

01:27 IST: The first period of extra-time gets underway! 

01:23 IST: FT: Croatia 1-1 Denmark. We head into the extra-time! 

01:18 IST: 3 minutes added! Croatia keep the ball within their half, not taking an chance. We might well see the second extra-time and beyond of the day being added in two consecutive matches after Spain lost to Russia in penalties, earlier.  

01:16 IST: Denmark with a throw-in, long one inside the box taken but the ball goes to the other side for another throw-in, took a touch of Modric. Knudsen takes it, cleared away by the Croatian. 

01:13 IST: Rebic, twisting and turning gets a brilliant ball in after getting past the Danish defenders but the Croatians fail to make the most of it. 87 minutes have been played! 

01:10 IST: Attempt from Perisic off a header inside the box, goes wide! 83 minutes played, extra-time, maybe?

01:04 IST: The ball falls nicely for Luka Modric in space, but he takes a shot from outside the box which goes way wide off the goal. 

01:01 IST: Denmark creating a couple of chances in a couple of minutes but not been able to get the breakthrough. 

00:59 IST: Poulsen on the right flank gets away from Strinic to set up Jorgensen in space, who takes a shot but well collected by Subasic. 

00:58 IST: Substitution for Croatia, Kovacic comes in place of Brozovic in the 71st minute. 

00:54 IST: End-to-end play on display with neither of the teams being able to get the equaliser, their defence has been strong. 

00:51 IST: Croatia corner, Modric takes it away by Cornelius but the ball comes back as Kasper fists the danger away. 

00:43 IST: Braithwaite gets a ball in space for Denmark, but he gets a little off-balance to kick the way away from the goal post.  

00:42 IST: Croatia pushed back inside their own half, Denmark has started the second-half well. Keeping the ball, making waited passes, creating opportunities we have seen all of it! 

00:37 IST: Poulsen makes a brilliant run away from the Croatian midfield as Eriksen chips the ball in straight into the gloves of Subasic. 50 minutes have been played! 

00:32 IST: The second-half gets underway! Christensen has been replaced by Schone for Denmark as the only substitution. 

00:17 IST: Referee blows the whistle, it's half-time: Croatia 1-1 Denmark. 

00:15 IST: One minute added as Mandzukic looks in a bit of pain and discomfort just before the half-time. The Juventus striker returns back after a bit of treatment in the sidelines.  

00:13 IST: Rakitic shoots from inside the box, from an infield pass from the left flank but Kasper does well to gather the ball. 44 minutes have been played. 

00:11 IST: Throw-in for Denmark, long throw taken inside the box but cleared away by the Croatian defence. Kasper later comes out of his box to kick the ball back inside the Croatian half as Eriksen chips the ball a bit wide off the post. 

00:07 IST: Free-kick for Croatia, Modric on the ball, delivers a cheeky ball inside the box which just goes past the far post. 38 minutes have been played so far, it's tied at 1-1.  

00:03 IST: Kasper kicks the bal long towards Cornelius, the ball drops to Eriksen who takes a wayward shot wide off the goal. 

23:58 IST: Rakitic shoots from outside the box, Kasper Schmeichel keeps it clear twice on the re-bound! Terrific save amidst fans with their mobile phone lights on! 30 minutes have been played.  

23:55 IST: Braithwaite looking to attack on the break, he gets a touch inside the box but Subasic will keep that away. Goal-kick for Croatia. 

23:50 IST: Croatia has taken control of the game, attacking through left flank, building-up space. Denmark pushed on the back-foot. Perisic on the left flank puts a cross to deep that will go away for Denmark throw-in. 21 minutes on the clock. 

23:45 IST: End-to-end game going on, Croatia looking to hold on possession of the ball, set the tempo of the game which saw an abrupt start to two goals in quick succession. 17 minutes on the clock. 

23:42 IST: Modric takes it, the ball on the second attempt inside the box has been headed away by Delaney. 

23:40 IST: Can we have a breather? Free-kick for Croatia, from the edge of the box! Perisic takes it, hits the wall for a corner.  

23:34 IST: Equaliser! Mandzukic puts Croatia level in the 4th minute. The equaliser came in 1 minute 52 seconds. 

23:32 IST: Goal! Jorgensen puts Denmark in the lead on the 2nd minute.  

23:30 IST: Kick-off! Eriksen kicks the ball from right to left.   

22:25 IST: National anthems take the centre stage. We are few minutes away from the kick-off! 

22:40 IST: Here is the complete line-up of both Croatia and Denmark for the tense clash. 

Ok now, deep breath everyone, as we're not done yet #RUS are into the quarter-finals. Who's joining them? #CRO or #DEN?

Here are your 22 starters for #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/14GPt5kKmd

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018

22:30 IST: Here is how Demark has lined-up for the clash against Croatia. 

Vores startopstilling til kampen mod @HNS_CFFKOM S, DRENGE!#ForDanmark #WorldCup #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/wIGqhrIbSg

— Fodboldlandsholdene (@dbulandshold) July 1, 2018

22:15 IST: Hello and welcome to the live commentary from the match between Croatia and Denmark. 

Croatia's three victories in have led many to claim that Croatia could win the World Cup 2018, especially in a tournament where there appears no outstanding favourite.

Ahead of the crunch clash Rakitic compared his teammate Modric to Spain's Andres Iniesta.

Four years with Iniesta at Barcelona and 11 alongside Modric for Croatia leaves Rakitic in a privileged position to judge two of the finest playmakers of the modern era.

Iniesta is regularly classed among the greats of the game and as a defining influence on Spain's success, but Modric's talents remain relatively unsung.

Perhaps, in part, it is because Iniesta's brilliance has been backed up by achievements on the world stage -- he scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final -- while Modric has not hit the same heights with Croatia.

Modric owns four Champions League titles from his six years at Real Madrid, and has also won a La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Topics mentioned in this article

Croatia Denmark Luka Modric Ivan Rakitic Christian Eriksen 2018 FIFA World Cup Football Live Score Live Blogs Croatia vs Denmark, Round of 16 Football